ROCHESTER, NY - Utica University's men's soccer visited the St. John Fisher University Cardinals in a nighttime matchup, defeating their E8 rivals by a score of 4-2. Utica scored four consecutive goals in the contest, with St. John Fisher recording the first and final goals of the game. The Pioneers improve to 4-2-1 overall and 1-0-1 in conference, while St. John Fisher will continue to chase their first win of the season, falling to 0-7-1 overall and 0-2-1 in the Empire 8.

Each Utica goal was scored by a different member of the orange and blue. Noah Nassberg (Naples, FL/Gulf Coast) scored the Pioneers' first goal, additionally tallying an assist later in the game. Jalen Lucero (Albuquerque, NM/Higley), Byamungu Mugushu (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes), and Mason Bucher (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) each added a score as well. Henry Schweitzer (Clinton, NY/Clinton) assisted on Lucero's goal as well. Zachary Accetta (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) started in net for Utica, saving five of the seven shots coming his way.

St. John Fisher's goals were also scored by separate players. Jack Tamburino opened the scoring for the game, getting assisted by Nick Rippe. Tommy Mullane netted the final goal of the game for the Cardinals. Jacob McGinnis contributed for St. John Fisher, taking a team-leading four shots, and joining Tamburino as the only Cardinals to put two shots on goal. Parker Stusek tended the goal for St. John Fisher, stopping six of his 10 shots seen.

The Cardinals opened the scoring on their home turf, taking a 1-0 lead during the 15th minute. Jack Tamburino, a junior from Rome, NY, found the back of the net first. He was able to tap in the ball on the backside of the net following a low pass through the defense by his teammate Nick Rippe.

Utica had several high-chance opportunities to quickly respond, eventually punching one in just over nine minutes after St. John Fisher broke the 0-0 tie. Utica began their scoring push with a free kick in the middle of their own defensive half. Defender Noah Scranton (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) kicked a long ball near the top of the penalty area in the offensive half. The ball was bounced back into the air twice in the battle for possession, hanging over senior captain Noah Nassberg (Naples, FL/Gulf Coast). Nassberg lifted his right heel, redirecting the ball into the bottom right corner and evening the score again.

The Pioneers' second goal came on a quick counterattack in the 35th minute. The Cardinals were carrying the ball deep into Utica's defensive zone before the ball rolled just out of their reach, and found the foot of midfielder Maximilian Pawlowski (Utica, NY/Whitesboro) on a clear attempt. A St. John Fisher defender attempted to corral the ball near the midfield line, but a good Utica bounce gave way to an advancing Henry Schweitzer (Clinton, NY/Clinton). Schweitzer carried the ball to the top of the penalty area before making a short pass by the defender to Jalen Lucero (Albuquerque, NM/Higley), who rocketed home a goal to the top-left corner of the net.

Byamungu Mugushu (Syracuse, NY/Bishop Grimes) extended both Utica's lead and his five-game point streak at the 57:57 mark. St. John Fisher was carrying the ball out of their half, attempting a pass in the midfield. The ball snuck away from the receiving Cardinal, finding its way to the foot of Nassberg. Nassberg passed a long ball to the middle of the field, finding Mugushu, who made a quick cut before netting a goal inside the right post from 24 yards out.

Utica tacked another on the scoreboard just two minutes and four seconds later. The Cardinals were again trying to clear their defensive zone when Utica scored on a quick attack. Mason Bucher (Rocky Point, NY/Rocky Point) intercepted a pass 27 yards out from the goal, taking just one step with the ball before burying a shot in the top-right corner. 

St. John Fisher closed the gap late, scoring their second goal with 5:13 left in the second half. The Cardinals held the ball in the midfield, passing to defender Michael Linder along the sideline. Linder passed the ball to a horde of players at the top of the penalty area, getting deflected back toward midfield. Senior midfielder Tommy Mullane advanced on the loose ball, blasting a shot just barely inside the goal post in the bottom left corner.

The squad will return to Laura M. Casamento Field on Saturday, September 27th, for the first home game in two and a half weeks, and the first in-conference home game of the season. The Elmira Soaring Eagles will come to town for the matchup, scheduled to begin at 4:00 pm.